High pressure diesel fuel pump pumping element

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a pumping element of a fuel pump for an internal combustion engine wherein the pumping element comprises a pumping chamber and a check valve assembly having a first insert including an angled passage in flow communication with a fuel outlet, and a second insert being disposed adjacent the pumping chamber, the second insert including a central bore in flow communication with a fuel inlet, a plurality of through holes in flow communication with the pumping chamber.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pumping element comprising:
 a check valve having a first insert including at least one angled passage and a second insert including a central bore and an inlet check valve plunger disposed in the central bore, the first insert having a first end and a second end opposite the first end thereof, and the inlet check valve plunger having a first end, a second end opposite the first end thereof, and one or more planar surfaces defining together with the central bore one or more fuel flow channels through which fuel is allowed to flow to the first insert from the second insert when the first end of the inlet check valve plunger is in contact with the second end of the first insert, the one or more planar surfaces extending longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the check valve; and 
 a pumping chamber positioned upstream of a most upstream end of the second insert relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber, wherein the second insert of the check valve is disposed adjacent the pumping chamber, the second insert including a plurality of through-holes configured to allow fuel to enter and exit the pumping chamber; 
 wherein a fuel inlet passage extends latitudinally within the first insert so as to allow inlet fuel to flow inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the first insert and downwardly from the second end of the first insert through the one or more fuel flow channels and into the pumping chamber, such that outlet fuel from the pumping chamber flows 
 through the one or more fuel flow channels and upwardly and inwardly from the second end of the first insert toward the central longitudinal axis through the at least one angled passage. 
 
     
     
       2. The pumping element of  claim 1 , wherein the second insert of the check valve includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the second insert being downstream of the second end of the second insert relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber, wherein the central bore extends from the first end of the second insert upstream along the longitudinal axis of the check valve relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber. 
     
     
       3. The pumping element of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of through-holes each include a first end and a second end, the plurality of through-holes extending downstream from the second end of the second insert relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber and terminating at the central bore. 
     
     
       4. The pumping element of  claim 3 , wherein each one of the plurality of through-holes includes a first diameter at the first end of the one of the plurality of through-holes adjacent the second end of the second insert and a second diameter at the second end of the one of the plurality of through-holes adjacent the central bore, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
       5. The pumping element of  claim 1 , wherein the central bore includes an annular shoulder and the plurality of through-holes are disposed radially inward of the annular shoulder. 
     
     
       6. The pumping element of  claim 5 , wherein the central bore includes an annular wall having a first diameter and the annular shoulder, positioned upstream of the annular wall relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber, projects outwardly radially relative to the annular wall, wherein the outward radial projection of the annular shoulder forms a second diameter of the central bore that is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
       7. The pumping element of  claim 1 , wherein the number of the plurality of through-holes is proportional to an amount of fuel entering and exiting the pumping chamber. 
     
     
       8. The pumping element of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet check valve plunger is reciprocally moveable in the central bore between an opened position and a closed position. 
     
     
       9. The pumping element of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first insert is downstream of the second end of the first insert relative to a flow of fuel away from the pumping chamber, and, wherein the inlet check valve plunger in the closed position is in sealing engagement with the second end of the first insert. 
     
     
       10. The pumping element of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing engagement prevents fuel flow into the central bore and into the pumping chamber. 
     
     
       11. A pumping element comprising:
 a body having an upper chamber, a lower chamber and at least one fuel inlet port disposed in the upper chamber; 
 a first check valve body and a second check valve body, wherein the first and second check valve bodies are entirely disposed in the upper chamber, and the first check valve body includes an outlet check valve plunger, at least one angled passage, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end thereof; 
 an inlet check valve plunger disposed longitudinally within at least a portion the second check valve body in the upper chamber and a pumping plunger disposed longitudinally in the lower chamber, the inlet check valve plunger having an opened position and a closed position, wherein the opened position permits fuel from the at least one fuel inlet port to fill the lower chamber, and the inlet check valve plunger further having a first end, a second end opposite the first end thereof, and one or more planar surfaces defining together with the central bore one or more fuel flow channels through which fuel is allowed to flow to the first check valve body from the second check valve body when the first end of the inlet check valve plunger is in contact with the second end of the first check valve body when the inlet check valve plunger is in the closed position, the one or more planar surfaces extending longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the check valve; and 
 a biasing member, at least a portion of the biasing member disposed longitudinally in the inlet check valve plunger, 
 wherein the pumping plunger is reciprocally moveable in the lower chamber such that movement of the pumping plunger toward the upper chamber causes the inlet check valve plunger to move to the closed position and the outlet check valve permits fuel to exit the pumping element; and 
 wherein a fuel inlet passage extends latitudinally within the first check valve so as to allow inlet fuel to flow inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the first check valve and downwardly from the second end of the first check valve through the one or more fuel flow channels and into the pumping chamber, such that outlet fuel from the pumping chamber flows 
 through the one or more fuel flow channels and upwardly and inwardly from the second end of the first check valve toward the central longitudinal axis through the at least one angled passage. 
 
     
     
       12. The pumping element of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet check valve plunger includes a central bore and a spring disposed therein, and the inlet check valve plunger moves to the closed position in response to a biasing force of the spring in cooperation with a reversal of fuel flow. 
     
     
       13. The pumping element of  claim 11 , wherein a first fuel inlet port is disposed in the upper chamber and a second fuel inlet port is disposed in the first check valve body. 
     
     
       14. The pumping element of  claim 13 , wherein the first check valve body includes a first angled passage and a second angled passage wherein the first angled passage and the second angled passage converge, and the second fuel inlet port is disposed between the first angled passage and the second angled passage. 
     
     
       15. The pumping element of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first check valve body includes a central bore that receives the outlet check valve plunger and the second end of the first check valve body includes an annular recess. 
     
     
       16. The pumping element of  claim 15 , wherein the second check valve body includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a central bore which receives the inlet check valve plunger, the central bore having an opening with an annular recess at a first end of the second check valve body. 
     
     
       17. The pumping element of  claim 16 , wherein the annular recess of the first check valve body and the annular recess of the second check valve body cooperate to form an annular passage between the first check valve body and the second check valve body. 
     
     
       18. The pumping element of  claim 11 , wherein the outlet check valve responds to movement of the pumping plunger toward the upper chamber by delivering fuel from the pumping element and movement of the pumping plunger away from the upper chamber by preventing delivery of fuel from the pumping element. 
     
     
       19. The pumping element of  claim 18 , wherein during fuel delivery by the pumping element, fuel travels from the lower chamber and through the first check valve body via the at least one angled passage. 
     
     
       20. The pumping element of  claim 11 , further including a head assembly mounted to the upper chamber wherein the head assembly includes a fuel outlet port configured to deliver fuel from the pumping element in response to the inlet check valve plunger being in the closed position. 
     
     
       21. The pumping element of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the fuel outlet port includes a surface disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the upper chamber. 
     
     
       22. A pumping element comprising:
 a pumping chamber; and 
 a check valve assembly having a first insert including a passage in flow communication with a fuel outlet and a second insert being disposed adjacent the pumping chamber, the second insert including a bore in flow communication with a fuel inlet, a plurality of through holes in flow communication with the pumping chamber, and an inlet check valve plunger entirely disposed in the bore for movement between an opened position wherein fuel from the fuel inlet flows past the inlet check valve plunger via one or more fuel flow channels defined between the bore and one or more planar surfaces of the inlet check valve plunger and flows through the plurality of through holes to the pumping chamber and a closed position wherein a first side of the inlet check valve plunger contacts a second side of the first insert such that fuel from the pumping chamber flows through the plurality of through holes past the inlet check valve plunger via the one or more fuel flow channels to the passage of the first insert, at least a portion of the inlet check valve plunger abutting the first insert in the closed position, the one or more planar surfaces extending longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the check valve; 
 wherein fluid is allowed to flow to the first insert from the second insert when the plunger abuts the first insert in the closed position; and 
 wherein a fuel inlet passage extends latitudinally within the first insert so as to allow inlet fuel to flow inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the first insert and downwardly from the second end of the first insert through the one or more fuel flow channels and into the pumping chamber, such that outlet fuel from the pumping chamber flows 
 through the one or more fuel flow channels and upwardly and inwardly from the second end of the first insert toward the central longitudinal axis through the at least one angled passage. 
 
     
     
       23. The pumping element of  claim 22 , wherein the inlet check valve plunger includes a central bore and a spring disposed therein, and the inlet check valve plunger moves to the closed position in response to a biasing force of the spring in cooperation with a reversal of fuel flow. 
     
     
       24. The pumping element of  claim 22 , wherein the first insert includes a first end and a second end and, wherein the inlet check valve plunger in the closed position is in sealing engagement with the second end of the first insert, wherein the sealing engagement prevents fuel flow into the pumping chamber.